Fitness news: You can’t do this 24 hour straight.
Yours in fitness and health
Relaxing exercises are activities that can help you reduce stress, calm your mind, and relax your body. There are many types of relaxing exercises, such as breathing, visualization, muscle relaxation, mindfulness, and yoga. Here are some examples of how to do them:
- Breathing: Sit in a quiet and comfortable place. Put one of your hands on your chest and the other on your stomach. Breathe in slowly through your nose and feel your stomach move more than your chest. Breathe out slowly through your mouth. Repeat this for at least 10 times or until you feel more relaxed12.
- Visualization: Think of a place that makes you feel happy, peaceful, and safe. It can be real or imaginary. Imagine all the details of that place, such as the colors, sounds, smells, and textures. Close your eyes and breathe slowly while you picture yourself in that place. Stay there for as long as you want or until you feel more relaxed12.
- Muscle relaxation: Start by tensing and relaxing the muscles in your feet and toes. Then move up to your calves, thighs, buttocks, abdomen, chest, back, arms, hands, neck, and face. Tense each muscle group for about 5 seconds and then relax for 30 seconds. Notice the difference between how the muscles feel when they are tense and when they are relaxed12.
- Mindfulness: Focus on the present moment without judging or worrying about the past or future. Pay attention to what you are experiencing through your senses, such as what you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. You can also focus on your breathing or a word or phrase that you repeat silently in your mind. Whenever you notice your mind wandering, gently bring it back to the present13.
- Yoga: Yoga is a practice that combines physical poses, breathing exercises, and meditation. It can help you improve your flexibility, strength, balance, and relaxation. You can do yoga at home by following a video or an app, or you can join a class at a gym or a studio. Choose a style of yoga that suits your level of fitness and comfort14.
I hope these examples of relaxing exercises can help you cope with stress and anxiety better. Remember to practice them regularly and find what works best for you .
